Blake Snell delivered a historically dominant performance in NLCS Game 1, shutting down the Milwaukee Brewers offense and leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a crucial 2-1 victory, despite a nail-biting ninth inning from the bullpen.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Blake Snell last offseason for a five-year, $182 million deal, their vision was clear: secure a bona fide ace who could thrive in baseball’s most pressurized moments. With a strong postseason résumé, including a 2.92 ERA across 12 prior playoff starts, Snell was precisely the pitcher the Dodgers envisioned leading their staff through October. In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Snell delivered on that promise, carving his name into postseason history with an absolutely masterful performance.
Snell’s Unprecedented Dominance
The two-time Cy Young Award winner showcased an unparalleled level of command and a devastating arsenal, dominating a Brewers lineup that had scored 22 runs in their NLDS series. Snell retired an astounding 17 consecutive batters to end his night, facing the minimum over eight shutout innings. His final line included 10 strikeouts, no walks, and just one hit allowed. This singular hit, a weak line drive by Caleb Durbin in the third inning, was quickly erased when Snell picked Durbin off first base.
This performance was not merely excellent; it was historically significant. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, Snell became the first pitcher in postseason history to record at least 10 strikeouts with one or fewer hits and zero walks in a start of eight or more innings. Furthermore, he joined an elite group of pitchers, becoming the first to face the minimum 24 batters through eight innings in a postseason game since Don Larsen’s legendary perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
The Changeup: Snell’s Secret Weapon
Beyond the impressive statistics, what truly stood out was Snell’s command, particularly with his changeup. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts highlighted it as “the pitch of the night,” noting that 14 of Snell’s 22 swing-and-misses came off that pitch. Snell, known for his ability to adjust mid-game, emphasized the importance of having all four pitches ready, but acknowledged the changeup’s effectiveness against Milwaukee.
“This is as good as I can remember [from Snell] in the postseason against a very gritty team [that] puts the ball in play,” Roberts remarked. Brewers manager Pat Murphy echoed the sentiment, calling it “the most dominant performance against us” he’d seen in his 10 years on Milwaukee’s staff.
Snell’s performance was particularly impactful given his season. A prolonged bout of shoulder inflammation limited him to just 11 starts and 61 1/3 innings during the regular season, yet he still posted an excellent 2.35 ERA and 2.69 FIP. His playoff run, which included wins against the Reds and Phillies with only two runs allowed over 13 innings, set the stage for this NLCS opener.
Brewers’ Patience Strategy Undermined
The Brewers’ game plan was simple: be patient and force Snell to throw strikes, leveraging their season-long lowest chase rate and sixth-highest walk rate. However, Snell confounded them by throwing strikes at a 50% clip, well above his regular season average of 44% and just shy of the major league average of 51%. This was only the third time in the past two seasons he had gone without a base on balls, signaling a new level of control for the usually wild, but brilliant, southpaw.
Offensive Breakthrough and Bizarre Plays
Despite Snell’s heroics, the Dodgers offense found themselves in several scrapes against Brewers pitchers Aaron Ashby and Quinn Priester. The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning. The Dodgers had runners on base repeatedly, including a truly bizarre 8-6-2 double play in the fourth inning that prevented a potential grand slam. Max Muncy’s 104 mph blast to deep center field appeared to be a home run, but Sal Frelick’s acrobatic attempt resulted in the ball bouncing off his glove, then the padded wall, and back into his glove. A quick relay from Frelick to Joey Ortiz, then to William Contreras, nabbed Teoscar Hernández at home, and then Will Smith at third, turning a near grand slam into a rally-killing double play. It was a play that left players and managers alike exclaiming, “What the f*ck just happened?”
The Dodgers finally broke the deadlock in the sixth inning when Freddie Freeman connected on a low fastball from Chad Patrick, launching a solo home run to right field, putting Los Angeles up 1-0. They added an insurance run in the ninth when Abner Uribe, after intentionally walking Shohei Ohtani, walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded, scoring Muncy and extending the lead to 2-0.
Bullpen’s Tightrope Walk
As has often been the case for the Dodgers recently, their bullpen made things interesting. Closer Roki Sasaki, who had been stellar in previous playoff outings, issued a one-out walk to Isaac Collins. Pinch-hitter Jake Bauers followed with a ground-rule double, scoring Collins and putting the tying run on third. Sasaki then walked Christian Yelich on a full count, prompting Roberts to bring in Blake Treinen.
Treinen, who had struggled in the Division Series, faced a bases-loaded situation with Brice Turang at the plate. After nearly hitting Turang with a pitch that would have tied the game, Treinen battled back, ultimately striking out Turang on a neck-high fastball to end the game and secure the L.A.’s 2-1 victory over the Brewers. It was a stressful but ultimately successful save, marking a crucial step forward for Treinen.
Series Implications and Future Outlook
This tightly contested opener highlighted both the Dodgers’ immense talent and their bullpen’s propensity for drama. With Snell pitching like an undeniable ace, combined with the return to form of players like Enrique Hernández (2-for-4), and the consistent contributions of Freddie Freeman and Will Smith, Los Angeles appears to be rounding into championship form. Ohtani’s three walks, two intentional, underscore the respect he commands at the plate.
The Dodgers now hold a 1-0 series lead, and with a rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani lined up, they are firmly in the driver’s seat. The Brewers, despite a strong performance from their own bullpen, face a daunting challenge, having expended key arms in a losing effort and now staring down a string of first-class starters.
Addressing the Brewers’ Narrative
Brewers manager Pat Murphy has consistently pushed a narrative of his team as underdogs, “average joes” shocking the world by reaching the NLCS, claiming none of his players would start for the Dodgers. However, Blake Snell isn’t buying it. “I mean, it’s a really good lineup,” Snell stated, adding, “I’m not falling for the ‘average joes.’ They’re not. They have the best record in the NL.” This sentiment reflects the Dodgers’ focused approach, understanding the true threat Milwaukee poses despite the public underdog narrative.
